I hate to admit it, but I have officially pandered to my Eric loving friend. She was mad that I made him out to be such a bully. Or maybe Mattie was the bully? So now she should be happy that he and Mattie are being more friendly towards one and other. They may argue a bit still. They are both control freaks after all.

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging reviews and PMs. I promise to keep writing, with or without the coffee. :-)

This chapter is short. I just had to have Bill be a sweetheart real quick before I got back to the meat of the story. I was listening to Chris Issak's "Wicked Game". That song is so southern sexy.

I do not own any of the characters from Southern Vampire Mysteries. They all belong to Charlaine Harris. Bless her for sharing them with us. Mattie is my very own.

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Chapter 11

It was almost 3am when we got back to the house. I was exhausted. The shoes I had been wearing were not exactly good work shoes and my feet were killing me. I went straight upstairs pulling off my clothes on the way. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and slid into bed. The sheets were cool and the pillows so soft. I rolled over and closed my eyes.

I was almost asleep when I felt Bill climb into bed next to me, draping his arm over my side and grabbing my hand in his.

"I was very proud of you tonight. You handled Eric much better than last night. Are you going to be alright with this new arrangement?" He was placing feathery soft kisses on my neck and behind my ear.

"I think so. It's a lot, but I'll be fine. When can we start working on my training? I'm anxious to know what I'm up against."

"Eric will be here tomorrow night at 10. He thinks you and I should study before hand so you at least have a handle on a few things before he gets here. Mattie, I'm not sure I want to see you fighting with him. I'm not all together comfortable with that yet."

I rolled over to face him, snuggling up next to his naked body.

"What are you afraid of? Don't worry baby, he won't hurt me, trust me, I know he won't. And I'm certainly not capable of hurting him...yet."

He laughed quietly. "Do you know that I love you? I do. I was wondering if you knew that. I feel so good when I'm with you. When we make love, I feel like we're the only two people in the world. You have stolen my heart. I love you Mattie."

"Oh Bill." I began to cry, tiny tears falling down my cheeks. The moonlight was streaming in the window laying streaks of light across his body. He was so beautiful. " I love you too. I feel whole again with you, like you're my missing piece. I feel so safe here in your arms, in our bed. I love you so much."

Bill made love to me that night. It was sweet and gentle. His kisses caressed me softly like a porcelain doll. With our bodies meshed together, I felt like all was right in my world. He loved me and I loved him. It was perfect.